Search

We all know we need to eat healthy and exercise regularly if we want to be in good health. It’s also known that the key to exercising regularly is choosing a form of exercise that you really enjoy. So, if you are a bicycling aficionado there is great news for you. If not, check out why you might want to consider becoming one.

If you want to have the immune system of a twenty year old – a recent study showed that cycling into old age can boost the immune system and keep body fat low. Some of the participants in the study were in their eighties and had the immune system of people in their twenties.

If you want to reduce the risk of heart failure – researchers have also found that aerobic exercise, four to five days a week can reverse or reduce the risk of heart failure. Late-middle age participants who led a sedentary lifestyle who started a regular exercise program, 4 -5 times a week, 30 min/ day, for 2 years have seen the “reversal of decades of sedentary lifestyle.” The exercise routine included at least one session of aerobic activity a week such as running, brisk walking, and cycling and one high-intensity aerobic session.

And finally, another research study published in the British Medical Journal, found that commuting by bike was associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and all-cause mortality. Also, mixed mode commuting with a cycling component also lowered the risk of all-cause mortality. The authors specify that active commuting has health benefits because it contributes to the overall daily physical activity, and bike commuting in particular has greater benefits because it is greater intensity than walking for example.

Whether you cycle for fun or transportation, keep on rolling into good health! For those of you who would like to give it a try and don’t know how to start, let us know, we can help.

Fall is here, the weather is nice and it is really pleasant to take a walk outside. Besides, the leaves are starting to change color which makes for a great view. Whether you take a walk during your lunch break, before or after work, or to and from work, walking is great way to increase your daily physical activity. And since sitting has been deemed the “new smoking”, the more you walk, the better your health.

Walking is the most popular form of exercise in the U.S.

To burn off a plain M&M candy, you would need to walk the length of a football field.

The average human walking speed is 3.1 miles per hour.

A typical pair of tennis shoes last for 500 miles of walking.

Less than 50% of Americans exercise enough to see significant health benefits.

Walking 6,000 steps a day will help improve your health and walking 10,000 will help you lose weight.

A person walks 65,000 miles in their lifetime – that’s equivalent to walking three times around the earth.

Walking increases blood flow to the brain and improves your mood.

Walking for 10 miles every week would eliminate 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year.

Walking an extra 20 minutes a day will burn 7 pounds of body fat per year.

September 22 is Car Free Day; an international event celebrated every year to encourage people to get Car Free or Car-Lite. You can walk, bike, take the transit, carpool, vanpool, or telecommute. As long as you don’t drive alone, you can participate in the Car Free Day event.

Look at it this way; you have to get to work, and you want to get your 30 min exercise anyway, why not combine them? Walk, Bike, take transit, carpool and go for a walk during lunch, telecommute and go for a walk/bike during lunch…you get the idea. You want to go green, you know it! Take the pledge.

There are no medals or special recognition, we won’t make you attend special award ceremonies if you take the pledge, but we think this will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside! You can do it all week, a few days, or just one day on September 22. And if you are already Car Free or Car-Lite, please brag about it – take the pledge.

We will enter all the participants in a drawing for a token of appreciation – a bike commuter kit, complete with helmet, lights, water bottle, and reflective items.

Be part of a global movement to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality. It counts, even for a day.

In a post from November of last year, we talked about the NJ electric vehicles incentives and how the state is working to increase the number of chargers available to reduce “range anxiety.”

As a reminder, there is a $7,500 federal tax credit for drivers of All-electric or Hybrid Plug-in vehicles. For companies in NJ wishing to upgrade their facilities, there is over $725,000 in grants in the “It Pay$ to Plug-In” program.

As for availability of chargers, here is some of the info we have found:

Earth911.com compiled a list of websites and apps that can help you find an EV charger and some of these apps and websites even specify the level of charging available. Here are the links to these apps and websites: Plugshare and Open Charge Map

We also found and tested Chargehub.com (caption below), which gives you the option to locate chargers by zip code, details on whether the chargers are public, whether they are fast charging, and what are the costs.

Caption: chargehub.com

And if you are out of charge and nowhere near a charger, AAA can provide Level 2 and Level 3 roadside charging assistance. You can also ask your insurance company if they offer roadside charging assistance.

There are three types of electric vehicle charging equipment:

Level 1 charging takes 8 to 12 hours to charge a depleted battery completely and provides charging through a 120 V, AC plug. This charger is usually found in owner’s home and requires a connector.

Level 2 charging takes 4-6 hours to completely charge and provides charging through a 240 V, AC plug. Compatible with all electric and hybrid vehicles, it has a cord that plugs directly into the vehicle. You are likely to find one in public parking areas and commercial settings.

Level 3 charging provides an 80% charge in 30 minutes, and it is not compatible with all vehicles.

Level 3 Tesla Supercharger only works for Tesla Model S and provides half a charge in 20 minutes.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 New Jersey Smart Workplaces (NJSW) awards. NJSW recognizes and honors employers who help reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality by providing commuter benefits to employees. Employers of all sizes are eligible to apply. Applying is easy and chances are that employers already provide some of the things that qualify them for this designation. Employers are recognized at one of four levels of achievement: bronze, silver, gold or platinum based upon the programs offered at the worksite.

There are no costs associated with this prestigious designation and all awardees will be featured on our website and recognized at Greater Mercer TMA’s Annual Luncheon in October.

These are some of the things we are looking for:

Bronze Level

Establish and maintain a relationship with a local Transportation Management Association (TMA).

Designate an on-site point of contact for employee commute inquiries.

Place alternative commute information in new-hire packets. (Contact us at tma@gmtma.org to receive alternative commute information)

Achieve FIVE Bronze Level activities and five Silver Level activities.

Platinum Level

Achieve Gold level and implement a comprehensive site-specific alternative commute program such as:

Telework or compressed work week program that reduces commute trips by 3%.

A monthly employer subsidy toward transit passes.

A monthly employer subsidy/benefit for employees who carpool or vanpool.

Partnering with local gyms, Ys, or other groups to provide off-site showers.

Supplement parking by partnering with local organizations to create private park and rides.

Provide fleet of bicycles for employee use or rental.

Provide an employer-subsidized shuttle.

Provide electric vehicles for employee business use.

Provide electric vehicles and charging stations for employee use.

Contact your TMA for more suggestions.

The program is a partnership of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Association and the state’s Transportation Management Associations (TMAs). Greater Mercer TMA is the program’s coordinator in Mercer and Ocean counties.

Go to www.gmtma.org to register online. If you are not sure you qualify or you have questions about the program, please contact us at tma@gmtma.org.

The “summer of hell” as it has been called on social media, has begun. The scheduled Amtrak Penn Station repairs will impact NJ Transit which in turn will impact the daily commute to NY Penn Station. Some commuters have been considering driving into NY during this time. The drive into NY is already busy and there is a lot of traffic, adding more cars to the road would make it even worse. So… if you do choose to drive why not consider carpooling?

Carpooling helps reduce traffic, and you’ll spend less on gas, reduce the wear and tear and miles on your car, and improve air quality. You can carpool as much or as little as you want, you do not have to carpool every day. You can get started by accessing NJ’s largest commuter network – NJ Rideshare. All you have to do is register, and search the database for partners. If you can’t find partners, contact your local TMA for help and while you’re talking to them make sure to register for the Emergency Ride Home program, a program that will ensure you get a free lift home if you ever have to leave work early or need to stay late.

You can watch this short video to see how you can Ride.Better.Together

NJ Rideshare is a partnership of the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) and the eight non-profit Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) serving New Jersey. Contact the TMA in the county in which you work for assistance.

A recent Smart Growth America article highlights the ways in which cities can commit to reducing emissions and steps mayors can take to achieve the Climate Actions Agenda goals.

Some of the steps highlighted in the article are investing in electric cars and clean energy and building walkable neighborhoods which are served by transit. Compact, walkable neighborhoods are efficient because they reduce the need to use a car and reduce water and energy use. And as Smart Growth America mentions, compact, walkable neighborhoods are in demand, which is good news for people worried about climate.

Other steps mayors can take:

Make walking and biking safer by adopting a Complete Streets approach

Make public transit a priority

Adopt policies that make it easier to locate homes and businesses near transit

Allow mixed-use development

Rethink street networks so that they connect and not end in a cul-de-sac

In Mercer County, Princeton’s Mayor Liz Lempert signed the Climate Mayors open letter to adopt and uphold the climate goals. Some of the highlights are:

Adding a new electric vehicle charging station on the first level of the Spring Street Garage

Adding a new temporary parklet in front of jaZams along Palm Square which will serve as a playful environment to educate people about renewable energy sources

Committing to reducing the municipal environmental footprint by producing less waste and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

And a new solar project over the former River Road landfill.

So far, over 270 mayors have committed to uphold the climate goals. And all of us can also commit to taking small steps to support them and the Climate Action Agenda by changing the way we drive and how we drive, use less energy, take public transit, and being more aware of our environmental footprint.